The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has announced the appointment of Seyi Onasanya as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), with effect from April 1, 2025.
The announcement was made by NiRA President Mr Akinsola Adesanya on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, who described the appointment as a strategic move to strengthen the organisation’s role in Nigeria’s growing digital ecosystem.
The NiRA, which manages Nigeria’s country code top-level domain (ccTLD), “.ng,” plays a critical role in supporting digital identity, internet governance, and technological innovation across the nation and beyond.
Adesanya noted that Onasanya brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategy, corporate transformation, and stakeholder engagement, having worked across both public and private sectors in Africa and Asia.
Her appointment, he said, is expected to reinforce NiRA’s capabilities and help advance its mission as a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
“Her leadership, combined with a profound understanding of the Domain Name System (DNS) and internet governance, makes her an excellent choice for this role,” Adesanya stated. “We are confident in her ability to contribute significantly to our ongoing growth and strategic development.”
Prior to joining NiRA, Onasanya served as a director at SNEVA Global Associates, as well as director and head of business advisory at the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC). She also worked as an organisation senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where she led major transformation initiatives and provided advisory services in digital governance, institutional development, and strategic leadership.
Her appointment comes as NiRA intensifies efforts to promote broader adoption of the .ng domain, which forms a crucial part of Nigeria’s national digital identity agenda.
The domain serves as a digital foundation for businesses, institutions, and individuals, supporting the country’s ambition to achieve digital sovereignty and economic innovation.
Onasanya takes over from Mrs Eyitayo Iyortim, who was recently elected Chairperson and President of the African Top-Level Domains (AfTLD), a regional body overseeing ccTLD registries across the continent.
Iyortim’s elevation reflects NiRA’s growing continental influence and its commitment to leadership development.
As COO, Onasanya is expected to lead initiatives that will drive digital transformation, enhance domain name adoption, and reinforce NiRA’s position within Africa’s internet governance landscape. Her role is viewed as essential in advancing the organisation’s long-term goals and sustaining its momentum in Nigeria’s digital journey.
